Ritual - Ritual


Year of Release: 2004
Label: Tempus Fugit
Catalog Number: TF VO 13
Format: CD
Total Time: 60:55:00

This review is excerpted from Clayton's December 14, 2003 The Prog Life column found here -ed.

Ritual's first album, recorded in 1995, has been re-released, and it's a doozy. I was suitably impressed with the group's recent effort, Think Like A Mountain, but their first release turns out to be superior in every way. Whereas Think Like A Mountain (still a great album, by the way) draws influence from more mainstream fare such as Led Zeppelin and Queen, the band's eponymous debut is more a traditional prog album, taking inspiration from Yes and Gentle Giant. Patrik Lundstr?m, the prog wunderkind who, along with Roine Stolt, has spectacularly revived Kaipa, is in terrific voice here, singing with passion and precision. The songs feature strong melodies interwoven with complex, and often scorching, instrumental sections. Moreover the album is expertly recorded, arranged, and produced. In short, a must-have release. What is it with those Swedes and great progressive rock?

(dist. via InsideOut Music America (North America) and InsideOut Music (Europe)


Tracklisting:
Wingspread / The Way Of Things / Typhoons Decide / A Little More Like Me / Solitary Man / Life Has Just Begun / Dependence Day / Seasong For The Moominpappa / You Can Never Tell / Big Black Secret / Power Place

Musicians:
Patrick Lundstr?m - vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Jon Gamble - keyboards, harmonica, vocals
Fredrik Lindqvist - bass, mandola, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, recorders, vocals
Johan Nordgren - drums, percussion, mallets, jews-harp, vocals

Discography:
Ritual (1995/2004)
Ritual (1996) (Japanese version)
Did I Go Wrong (EP) (1999)
Superb Birth (1999/2000/2004)
Think Like A Mountain (2003)
Live (2006)
The Hemulic Voluntary Band (2007)
Glimpses From The Story Of Mr. Bogd (2020)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin SE

Added: December 14th 2003
Reviewer: Clayton Walnum
Score:
Artist website: www.ritual.se
Hits: 2360
Language: english

  

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